Final answer:
Health care providers use a system dividing the abdomen into nine regions or four quadrants to diagnose abdominal pain. The understanding of abdominal anatomy, including muscles and organs, aids in determining potential causes which may be further investigated with tools like abdominal ultrasound.
Step-by-step explanation:
To assist with diagnosing conditions such as abdominal pain, health care providers often reference a system that divides the abdominal area into either nine regions or four quadrants. This system helps in localizing symptoms such as pain, swelling, or masses, and can be crucial in identifying the underlying cause of a patient's discomfort.
In clinical scenarios like the cases of Alex and Marisa, abdominal pain can have various etiologies - from infections acquired during travel, as in Alex's case, which could suggest gastrointestinal issues, to Marisa's more complex presentation that includes symptoms like swollen lymph nodes and fever. These symptoms could indicate an infection or another inflammatory process.
Understanding the anatomy of the abdomen, including the three flat skeletal muscles - the external oblique, internal oblique, and transversus abdominis - allows health care providers to better evaluate the potential causes of abdominal pain through physical examination or supplementary diagnostic tools, such as an abdominal ultrasound.